Sanitary telephone-mouthpiece.



E. M. JENKINS. SANITARY TELEPHONE MouTHPIEcE. .APPLICATION FILED JAN. I9. i915.

1,215,377. Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

` 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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E. M..IIENKINS.

SANITARY TELEPHONE MOUTHPECE.

APPLICATION FILED IA'N. I9, |915. 1,215,377. ,Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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' I l l I INVENToR J ATTORNEY PATENT OFFICE. j

ED M. JENKINS, 0F TALY, TEXAS..

SANITARY TELEPHONE-M0 UTHPIECE.

Application med'ranuary 19, 191s. serial No.

To all 'whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, En M. JENKINS, citizen of the United States, residing at Italy, in the county of Ellis and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful lmproveme'nts in Sanitary Telephone-Mouthpieces, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sanitary telephone mouthpieces.

The object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in the construction and arrangement of the telephone mouthpiece previously patented by me, which improvements are; the provision of an outer shell of regular contour and without a depending receptacle; the provislon of means for storing a disinfectant within the said outer shell; means for fastening the mouthpiece on a telephone transmitterand at the same time adjusting it so the nipple remains upright and also for drawing the parts into firm-engagement witheach other; and the provision of a fibrous member for absorbing the disinfectant; and also the provision of means for insulating the entire mouthpiece from the transmitter.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described that will be strong, durable, efficient, and simple and inexpensive to construct; also one in which the several part's will -not be likely to get ont of--working order.

vWith the above and other objects in View, the invention has relation to certain novel features of construction and operation, an example of which is described in the following'specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a transmitter equipped with the improved mouthpiece, n

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lnner shell F ig. 3 is a side elevation of the intermediate shell,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the outer shell,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional vlew of the mouth-piece,

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line :vof Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the couplingl and insulating member,

Fig. 8 is a. view of a modlfied form of ing collar formed. The shelll A., Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 19E?.

mouth-piece, a portion being illustrated in section,

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken Jon the line a-a of Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 is a view of another form, and

F 11 is a View 'of a still further modification. 'p

In the drawings the numeral 1 in each figure designates an outer metallic shell, 2 an Intermediate shell and 3, an inner shell. The outer shell 1 has a general cylindrical shape open at its front end and having an inwardly directed flange 4 at its rear end which provides a central opening. The flange '-l is turned outward around the een tral opening as is indicated at 5 1 proper is merged into the flange by gradual curves 'and the intersection forms. an annular receptacle or pocket which receives a ring of 'brous material 6 as shown.

and a tapervThe intermediate shell 2 is frusto-conical and providedwith a laterally directed flange 1() at its front end, said flange fitting snugly within 'the shell 1 and having a notch 7 receiving a projection 8 from the shell 1; whereby said shell 2 is held against rotation in shell 1 and caused to be inserted in a certain position. With the shell 2 in position only a portion of the wall is perforated, that being at the underside askshown. These perforations 9 are in a cluster and are the only means of passage for the fumes disseminatl ing from a disinfectant stored in the ring 6.

The inner shell 3 has an annular roll flange ll at its front end which engages over both the front edge of the outer shell and the ange 10 of the shell 2. The shell 3 is contracted and gradually curved vinward, toward its inner end where it is provided with an internal screw threaded annular boss 12. The inner end asf of the shell 3 frictionaily engages in the collar 5 of the outer V shell, of said collar. The intermediate shell 2 has its inner end projecting into the crotch formed by the intersection of the inner and outer shells as is best shown in Fig. 5; lThe inner shell 3 has a plurality of spaced perforations whereby the fumes passing through the intermediate shell are disseuunated 1n the inner shell.

but termmates short of the oter edge The shells are spaced apart as shown and I this spacing is a direct result of the particular shapes,but it is to be understood that the upper 'side of the ya perforated f inner shell.

shapes may be varied and thel intermediate shell entirely omitted if desired as shown in Fig. 11 where'the ring 6 is held in place by washer 14 fitting snugly on the The ring 6 in both forms is confined to the rear portion of the outer shell, thus providing a space in front as shown, Y

A nipple 15 is provided on the outer shell and is confined to that portion receiving the ring 6 and normally is positioned at the shell. This nipple is closed by a screw cap 16. By removing said cap the -ring of fibrous material is exposed and liquid disinfectantmay be introduced and stored inthe ring without disturbing the adjustment of the parts or the position of the-mouth-piece on the transmitter. The nipple and cap however may be omitted if desired as shown in Fig. 11 and the ring saturated by disconnecting the shells.

One of the very essential and novel fea-- tures of the invention is a coupling 20 having a serrated periphery and also provided with integral collars 21 and 22 projecting from opposite sides. These collars are externallyl -screw threaded, the collar 21 being adapted to be screwed into the ordinary telephone transmitter and the collar 22 being screwed into the boss 12 of the inner shell. The l inner end of the inner short of the outer edge of the collar 5 it is obvious that when the coupling is screwed into the boss it will bear against the collar and draw the inner shell into said collar whereby the roll fiange 11 is drawn tight over the outer end of the outer shell and the parts firmly fastened together. In attaching the mouth-piece to the transmitter lthe coupling is not screwed up tight into the shell but left loose so that the collar 21 can be screwed into the transmitter and the nipple adjusted in an upright position before finally tightening the parts which may be accomplished by rotating the inner shell. That portion of the coupling 20 within the collar 22 is perforated the same as the corresponding portion ofthe ordinary mouthpiece. The coupling is preferably made Vof some insulating material whereby the entire mouth-piece is insulated from the transmitter and the liability of an electrical shock obviated.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a slightly modified form which involves hell an outer s 30 having a collar 31 similar to the collar 5 and a nipple 32 provided with a screw cap shell terminating piece,

er 14. n

applied to the mo th-piece used in telephone operators breast sets as shown in Fig. 10.

An outer shell 40 is provided and also has a( 'collar 41 which receives an intermediate shell 42 having .perforations 43 at one side.

A fibrous washer 44 surrounds the shell: 42

Slits 38 in. the inner shellv within the outer shell. A'fla-nged closure provided with a central-opening is removably securedvon the outer s ell. The mouth'- piece 46 passes through the closure 45, shell 42 and collar 41 and corres/ponds to the inner shell of Fig. 5. -Packing washers 47 and 48 are confined at the ends 'of the 4shell 42 and closely embrace the mouth-piece so that the fumes cannot escape through either of the openings. That portion of the mouth-piece confined between\the washers has perforations 49 wherebyv the fumes from the disinfectant escape into the mouth-piece. It is to be understood that' in using these devices a suitable disinfectant is stored in the outer shell and the fumes escaping through the various ings find their way into the innerfshell or tubular member and perform their function. The disinfectantv is Arenewed from time to time. is used it is perforated in such a manner that a surplus of liquid disinfectant cannot run down into'the inner shell.

The invention is presented as including all such modifications and changes as properly come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I'claim, is: 1. In a telephone. transmitter mouthpiece, the combination of an inner shell, an outer shell equipped with means fo'r storing a disinfectant therein, the inner -shell being tapered and having its inner end engaging in the end Wall of the outer shell, said inner shell beingconstructed to disseminate the fumes from the disinfectant, and a coupling engaging the outer'shell and attached to the inner shell and fastening said shells together, said coupling being constructed to engage a telephone transmitter and support the mouth-piece.

2. In a telephone transmitter mouththe combination of an outerv tubular member, an `inner tubular member, an intermediate tubular member disposed. between the other two members and within the outer member,I a disinfectant storing member surrounding the intermediate member within Where anintermediate shell perforationsI and open-l the outer member, the intermediate member being constructedv to admit the disinfectant fumes from the outer member, the members lbeing arranged so that the fumes cannot escape except through the intermediate member, the inner member having provision for disseminating the disinfectant' fumes therein, and means for fastening the members together. l

3. In a telephone transmitter mouthpiece, the combination of an outer shell, an inner shell separate from but fitting within the outer shell, the outer shell having a tapering collar at its inner end, the inner shell having its inner end frictionally engaging in the collar of the outer shell, and a coui A pling member engaging in the inner shell and `bearing against the outer shell whereby the inner shell is drawn Within the outer' shell, said coupling member being separate and distinct from the shells and having provision forengaging in a telephone transmitter, the outer shell having provision for lstoring a disinfectant between the same and1 thel inner shell.

4. In a sanitary telephone transmitter lmouth-piece, the combination of an outer shell having provision for storing a disinfectant'therein, a tapering collar provided on the inner end'of the outer shell, an innerl shell fitting Within the outer shell and having its inner end frictionally engaging inthe collar, an intermediate shell disposed within the outer shell and 'surrounding the inner shell, said intermediate shell having its inner end projecting into the joint formed by y the inner ends of the outer and inner shells,

whereby the inner shell is drawn within the v and a coupling memberseparate from the shells engaging the inner end of the inner shell and bearing against the outer shell outershell, saidcoupling member having provision for engaging ina telephonetransmitter. Y

5. In a telephone transmitter mouthpiece, the combination of an outer tubular member, an'inner ltubular member, an intermediate tubular member' disposed between the other two members and within the outer e member, a disinfectant storing member sur- ,rgnnding the intermediate member within the outer member, the intermediate member.

being constructed to admit the disinfectant fumes from theouter member. the members 4 ing the inner shells and fastening all the shells together, said coupling having means for engaging a transmitter.

6. In a telephone transmitter mouthpiece, the combination of a pair of shells one fitting within and movable with relation' to the other, the inner shell having a laterally extending flange overhanging and enga the outer end of the outer shell, the inner end of the inner shell frictionally engaging in the inner end of the outer shell, and an adjustablecou ling member engaging the inner end of t e inner shell and bearing against the inner end of the outer shell, whereby the inner shell is drawn into the outer shell and a frictional joint made at the inner ends while the ilamge of the former embraces the out-er edge of the latter.

7. In a telephone transmitter mouthpiece, the combinationl of a substantially cylindrical outer shell having its inner end closed except at the center, a'tapered inner shell iitting within the outer shell and movable relatively thereto, the inner shell closner end of the outer shell whereby the inner end of the latter is closed, the tapered inner shell providing an annular chamber in conjunction with the end wall of the .outer shell, within the outer shell, a disinfectant member occupying a portion of the chamber between the shells, and an adjustable coupling member impinging the outer shell and engaging the inner shellwhereby the latter is wedged into the former and the chamber therebetween sealed.

In testimonv whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- ED M. JENKINS. Witnesses: l

T. B. FUSTAN, E. H. MURPHY. 

